New fire chief named in District of Columbia

By AMANDA LEE MYERS
Associated Press

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser named Gregory Dean as the city's new fire chief at a news conference Monday. His appointment needs to be confirmed by the D.C. Council, and he's expected to start May 4.

Dean was the Seattle Fire Department's chief for 10 years.

Eugene Jones has served as the District's interim fire chief since Kenneth Ellerbe stepped down in July.

Ellerbe's three years were marked by complaints of poor service and staffing shortages. During his tenure, the fire department faced criticism for delays in patient care and the death of an elderly man after firefighters ignored calls for help from bystanders.

More recently, the department was criticized following a fatal Metro accident in January.

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